After years of unfinished projects and government interference, it's
not surprising that Eisenstein's first completed sound film came
across as a concession to the powers that be. Certainly its patriotic
vision served Stalin well after the collapse of the Nazi-Soviet pact.
Striving for a folk tale simplicity, Eisenstein stumbles into
self-parody, and his heroic characters seem more cliched than mythic.
Even the choreography of the famous battle on the ice seems somewhat
clumsy. Simple-minded entertainment, complete with a rousing
Prokofiev score and an irritating air of righteous fervour.
